Controlling device.



P. H. ZIMMER.

CONTROLLING DEVICE. APPLIQATION FILED AUG. 3, 1911. annnwnn mm: so, 1913.

1,086,431. Patented Feb. 10, 1914.

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P. H. ZIMMER.

CONTROLLING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 3, 1911. RENEWED JUNE so. 1913.

Patented Feb. 10, 1914.

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UNITED sTA'rigs PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL H. ZIMMER, 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THE CUTLER-HAMMER MFG. 00., 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

CONTROLLING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 10, 1914.

Application filed August 3, 1911, Serial No. 642,109. Renewed June 30, 1913. Serial No. 776,737.

1 '0 all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, PAUL H. ZIMMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Controlling Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in controlling devices.

It is one of the objects of my invention to provide a simple, etficient and durable device for controlling a plurality of circuits and by means of which the circuits may be completed or interrupted in a predetermined sequence.

Various other objects and advantages of my invention will be hereinafter set forth.

My invention is particularly applicable to the control of electric motors, especially for starting and accelerating the same; It is however, susceptible of use in various other relations and for various diflerent purposes.

For the purpose of clearly and fully setting forth the nature and characteristic features of my invention I shall describe the motor controller illustrated in the accompanying drawing which embodies my invention in one form. It should be understood however, that my invention is not limited to the particular embodiment thereof illustrated but is susceptible of various modifications. i

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the controller. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of parts shownin Fig. 1, certain of the parts being shown in section. Fig. 3 is a detail view of one of the contact members and a portion of its supporting member, and Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view showing one form of connections between the controller and an electric motor whereby the controller will serve as an automatic starting device.

The various parts of the controller are mounted upon an insulating panel 1. The controller includes a series of switch members 2, 3, 4 and 5, an operating solenoid 6 therefor, and a main line switch 7. In-the controller illustrated the switches 2 to 5 serve to control a starting resistance which may be mounted in the box 8 to which the panel 1 is attached. e

In practice the switch members 2 to 5 may be of any preferred construction. As illustrated each comprises a sheet metal strip having-its longitudinal edges upturned for strengthening purposes. Each contact member 15 provided at its upper extremity with a contact tip 10 which may be secured there to in any suitable manner. The contact tips 1 are preferably provided with curved active faces as illustrated. The switch members 2, 3, 4 and 5 are provided with cooperatmg stationary contacts 11, 12, 13, and 14 respectively. In practice the stationary contacts may be of any preferred type. The switch members are all mounted upon a common supporting and operating member 15. The member 15 is provided at opposite ends with co-axial trunnions 16 and 17 havmg hearings in blocks 18 and 19 respectively secured to the panel 1. The member 15 is provided with downwardly extending lugs 20, 21, 22 and 23 one for each of the switch members. Each of these lugs is provided adjacent to its lower extremity with an out-- wardly projecting pin 24 fitting into a recess or orifice in the lower extremity of its corresponding switch member to support the same. The recesses or orifices in the switch members are preferably made of sufiicient size to permit of a rocking movement of each of the same upon the rounded extremity 26 of its corresponding lug. For preventing lateral play of the switch members on their supporting pins, 2. second pin 27 is passed through each switch member and secured in any suitable manner to the supporting lnm ber 15. Upon each of the pins 27 is placed a spiral spring 28 interposed between the switch member and a cotter pin 29 passing through the outer extremity ofthe pin 27. The springs 28 thus tend to force the switch members inwardly or toward the supporting member. Upwardly extending lugs 20, 21, 22 and 23 are provided upon the member 15 to limit the inward movement of the switch members. The lugs on the member 15 are disposed at relatively different angles with the result that the switch members are all normally held at different distances from their respective stationary contacts. As illustrated, the angular positions of the switches is such that upon movement of the member 15 upon its trunnions, the switches 2, 3, 4 and 5 will engage their respective contacts successively in the order given and 1 switch 5 is actuated the plunger of the dash pot passes the by-pass 47, thus eliminating the retarding action of the dash pot. The plunger of the solenoid thereupon continues the operation of the member 15 to cause the lug 41 thereon to engage with and open the switch 38 with a quick action to interrupt the short circuit around the resistance R. The resistance R is thus thrown in series with the winding of the solenoid to reduce the flow of current therethrough to an amount just sufficient to enable the solenoid to retain the switches in closed position. To stop the motor it is only necessary to open the switch 51 whereupon the solenoid 6 is deenergized, thereby permitting the switches 2 to 5 inclusive to return to open position, said switches being given an impetus toward open position by the springs 28 which are maintained under tension while the switches o are closed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to obtain by Letters Patent, is:

1. In combination, a rotatable bar, a plurality of contact members carried thereby and cooperating stationary contacts for said contact members, said bar upon rotation moving said contact members and insuring engagement thereof with their respective stationary contacts in a definite sequence, the operation of each of said contact members being arrested by its engagement with its cooperating contact.

2. In combination, a rotatable bar, a plurality of contact members carried thereby and cooperating stationary contacts for said contact members, said bar upon rotation moving said contact members and insuring engagement thereof with their respective stationary contacts in a definite sequence,

1 the operation of each of said contact members being arrested by its engagement with its cooperating contact, and a solenoid for rotating said bar.

3. In combination, a rotatable member, a plurality of contact members secured thereto to move therewith but adapted to have their operation arrested without arresting the operation of said rotatable member, and cooperating stationary contacts for said contact members, the former arresting the operation of the latter, said rotatable member being operable to move said contact members into and out of engagement with their respective stationary contacts and to insure engagement and disengagement thereof in a definite sequence.

4;. In combination, a rotatable member, a plurality of contact members secured thereto to move therewith but adapted to have their operation arrested without arresting the operation of said rotatable member. and cooperating stationary contacts for said contact members, the former arresting the operation of the latter, said rotatable member being operable to move said contact members into and out of engagement with their respective stationary contacts and to insure engagement and disengagement thereof in a definite sequence, and a solenoid for rotating said rotatable member.

5. In combination, a movable member, a plurality of rocking contact arms supported and operable by said member, each of said arms having a connection with said movable member permitting its operation to be arrested independently of said movable member, and stationary contacts to be on gaged by said contactmembers, said movable member insuring engagement of said contact members with their respective stationary contacts in a definite sequence.

6. In combination, a movable member, a plurality of contact members carried by said movable member and having a rocking movement imparted thereto by said movable member, a resilient connection between each of said contact members and said movable member permitting the operation of the former to be arrested independently of the latter, and stationary contacts to be engaged by said contact members, said movable member insuring engagement of said contact members with their respective stationary contacts in a definite sequence.

7. In combination, a movable member, a plurality of contact members carried by said movable member and having a rocking movement imparted thereto by said movable member, a resilient connection between each of said contact members and said movable member permitting the operation of the former to be arrested independently of the latter, stationaryjcontacts to be engaged by said contact members, said movable member insuring engagement of said contact members with their respective stationary contacts in a definite sequence, and a solenoid for operating said movable member to move all of said contact members into engagement with their respective stationary contacts and through said resilient connections to place each contact member under pressure during the operation of succeeding contact members.

8. In combination, a plurality of switch members and a common supporting member therefor, said switch members being yieldingly connected to said supporting member and being normally disposed in relatively diflerent angular positions upon said operating member.

9. In combination, a plurality of switch members and a common supporting member therefor, pivotedly mounted to actuate said switch members, said switch members being disposed in relatively difierent angular positions upon said operating member and yieldingly connected thereto.

10. In combination, a revolubly mounted elongated member and a plurality of contact arms mounted side by side upon said member transversely thereof and in relatively different angles thereon, each of said arms having a resilient connection with said member.

11-. In combination, a revolubly mounted elongated member and a plurality of contact arms mounted side by side upon said member transversely thereof and, at relatively different angles thereon, each of said arms having a substantially pivotal movement upon said member and being biased against such movement.

12. In combination, a revolubly mounted elongated member havingc a plurality of pairs of transversely extending lugs thereon, said lugs being disposed in relatively different angular positions upon said member and the lugs of each pair being substantially in longitudinal alinement, a plurality of contact members, each of said contact members being yieldingly secured against a pair-of said lugs and one lug-of each pair having a portion engaging with its corresponding contact member adjacent to its extremity to positively support the same but permitting a rocking movement of the contact member thereon. v i

13. Inc'ombination, a revolubly mounted elongated member, a plurality of pairs of lugs thereon extending transversely to the axis thereof, a plurality of contact members, a pin projecting from one of each pair of lugs and extending into one-of said;conta ct members to support the same and permit of a rocking movement of each contact member about the extremity of its supporting.lug and a resilient connection between each of'said contact members and said first mentioned member for holding the contact members in place.

14. In combination, a rev'olubly mounted elongated member, a plurality of pairs of lugs'thereon extending transversely to the axis thereof, a-plurality of Contact members, a pin projecting from one of each pair of lugs and extending into one of said contact members to support the same and permit of a rocking movement of each contact member about th extremity of its supporting lug and a resilient connection betweeneach of said contact members and 7 said first mentioned member for holding the contact mem- '55 bers in place, each of said connections consisting of a pin connected to said first men tioned member and passing through the coninsure engagement thereof with their re-' spective stationary contacts in a definite sequence and said bar when rotated moving all of said contacts simultaneously until the first 'of the same engages its respective contact, and thereafter moving the remain" contact members into engagement-with their respective contacts and successively placing the same under tension.- J

16. In combination,'a rotatable bar, a

plurality of contact members mounted thereon, a resilient connection between each of said contact members and said bar, cooperating stationary contacts for said contact members, said bar having parts normally holding said contact membersin a relation to insure engagement thereof with their respective stationary contacts in a definite sequence and said barwhe'n ro-- tated moving all of said contacts simultaneously until the first of the same engages its respective contact, and thereafter moving the remaining Contact members into engagement with their respective contacts and successively placing the same undertension, and a solenoid for rotating said bar. 17. In combination, a pivoted member, a contact finger yieldingly secured against said pivoted member, and a pin on said pivoted member projecting into a recess in said finger contiguous to one extremity thereof. In witness whereof, I have-hereunto sub scribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

' PAUL H. ZIMMER.

Witnesses FRANK H. I'IUBBARD, W'AL'rnn C. SARGENT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

